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3 Principles for Christians to Coordinate Harmoniously in Service

By Ma Hui, Germany

As we all know, only if we serve God with one heart and mind can we obtain the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and can the church’s work be blessed by God. For the Lord Jesus told us, “That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Mat 18:19).

During our coordination in service, Satan does the work of dismantling all the time. It always uses our corruption and rebelliousness to carry out its cunning schemes to disturb and undermine God’s work and to prevent God’s will from being done. On the surface, the matter of Christians’ coordination in service is a matter between people. In the spiritual world, it actually is a battle. If we do not understand the truth, we will not be able to see through Satan’s schemes, and we will often be used by it and live in its affliction and mocking. Then we will become guarded with, attack, and undermine one another. In the end, we will be arch-enemies with others, incapable of fulfilling our duty with one accord. Unknowingly, we will have fallen for Satan’s schemes and dismantled the work of the church.

Because we are often not able to see through Satan’s schemes and have corrupt satanic disposition, we often cannot be of one mind with our brothers and sisters to serve the Lord during the coordination with them. Sometimes when we have a different opinion, an idea or understanding from our partners, being dominated by our arrogant nature, we always insist that our partners listen to us, with the result that we and our partners hold to our own opinions. Consequently, it produces friction and estrangement, and even our hot-bloodedness flares up or we are obsessed with right and wrong. Sometimes when our partners and we are different in caliber and strength, we belittle them whose caliber is inferior to ours, uphold ourselves, and go our own way, which causes problems for the interests of the church. Sometimes when what our partners do hurts our dignity or affects our personal interests, we are no longer as tolerant and patient as before, but attack and hurt them for the protection of our own interests, which even results in the church’s work reaching an impasse.

If we have these problems in coordination with others, can our service be approved by God? Philippians chapter 2 verse 2 says: “Fulfill you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Amos chapter 3 verse 3 says: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” If we are of one heart and mind with our partners, we can receive God’s work and approval. However, if we are not agreed, we cannot walk together, and it will be difficult for us to let God’s will be carried out in us. Therefore, such service cannot be approved by God.

So, what principles should we Christians grasp to coordinate harmoniously with others?

Firstly, we should obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the principles of truth and not adhere to self-will or be restrained by other people.

It is normal that we have different opinions from others on the problem arising in the church’s work, for everyone has different circumstance of his birth, living environment, quality of education and so on. If we always demand that others listen to us and even suppress others with status to achieve this, then it is not in accordance with saintly propriety. If we want to serve God in a way that meets His intentions, we should seek the principles of truth rather than listening to anyone. We should not go others’ way or our way, nor be constrained by position, power, knowledge, and reputation. We should seek God’s words and submit under the authority of His words. Just as the Lord Jesus said, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). When our co-workers, partners, pastors or elders ask us to do some things that are not compatible with the Lord Jesus’ words, we should not be ruled by them but submit to the words of the Lord Jesus. If what they say conforms to the Lord’s words, then we should put ourselves aside and obey what comes from God.

When we hold different opinions on unprincipled or meaningless matters, we could give way and not insist. For example, two sisters in our church who did hosting sometimes disputed over the matter of cooking for brothers and sisters. Actually, there is just a difference of approach between them and that does not concern principles nor the interests of the church at all. Therefore, in such cases, if we insist on our opinions, then it is regarded as a revelation of our corrupt disposition. Afterward, they were both willing to put themselves aside. At that time, the estrangement between them disappeared and they could coordinate harmoniously with each other.

Furthermore, we should learn to obey the enlightenment and guidance of the Holy Spirit. For example, when we have no idea how to deal with some matters we encounter, we should pray and seek the Lord. After that, we may not deliberately think about what to do, but we suddenly have a path to follow inside us, and we consider it relatively suitable and feel peace in our spirit. In this case, it is the Holy Spirit guiding us and we should follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Just as Romans chapter 8 verse 5 states, “But they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” In addition, sometimes we have a disagreement with our partners. We originally think our idea is better than that of our partners, but we also have a vague feeling in our heart that we should not be opinionated but take up the suggestion of our partners first, and we feel at ease when having that feeling. After following the guidance within us, we find that the suggestion of our partners is really good and benefits the work of the church more. Then we can confirm that the vague feeling comes from the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and that it is very critical for us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Secondly, we should not seek to prevail over others but learn from each other.

It is written in Philippians 2:3-4: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” These verses show that struggling for fame and gain is not the likeness Christians should live out but we should be humble, and that we should not be selfish but be more considerate toward others. However, because we have arrogant nature, we always want to show ourselves off, and it is easy for us to unwittingly belittle others, take the credit for ourselves, and put the blame on others when there occur flaws in the church’s work. This leads to unharmonious coordination between others and us. If we can change our views on pursuit as what these verses say, no longer seeking to exhibit ourselves but being humble, seeing others’ strengths and learning from others, then we will not be blindly conceited but naturally be able to coordinate harmoniously with others.

In addition, we must know that every task of the church’s work needs to be completed through the harmonious coordination between brothers and sisters, and is not something that a single person can accomplish. Only through cooperative work can we allow the church to reach better results in its work. After all, everyone is not a jack-of-all-trades, and has many shortcomings and deficiencies. If we serve God based on our individual ability, it is not easy to make the church’s work achieve good effect, and sometimes we even cause deviations to occur in the work of the church and bring loss to it. If we coordinate with brothers and sisters in service, we can complement each other in varying degrees and thus prevent some mistakes. Just as 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 12 says, “For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body.” Every one of us is a member, so only through our coordination can we complete what God entrusts to us. Just like in the Age of Law, Jehovah God asked Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. However, Moses could not complete God’s commission independently because of his clumsiness of speech. Therefore, God raised up Aaron as the outlet of Moses. They performed their own duties, coordinated with each other, and finally led the Israelites out of Egypt and completed God’s commission. Likewise, today the church arranges for us to coordinate with each other in service in order that the church can reach better results in its work. So we should not see only the shortcomings in our partners, belittle them, or even hurt them. We should look at things from a different perspective and regard our partners as our helpers. This way, the problems of the church can be solved and we will have a harmonious partnership with others. It is hugely beneficial for the work of the church and each other’s life growth.

Thirdly, we should work for a common goal and provide for and support each other in spirit.

It is written in Philippians 2:1-2: “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Ephesians chapter 4 verse 3 says, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” From these verses, we can see that if we Christians want to have a harmonious partnership with each other, we must have a common goal, be one in spirit, and achieve accord together in order to complete God’s commission. Then, no matter what disputes or conflicts there are between us, we will all think about how we should do things in a way that lets God’s will be carried out, no longer maintain our own opinions, and instead put aside our personal interests and plans. At that time, we will have achieved unity.

We Christians should be one externally and internally. Sometimes, on the outside, there are no disputes between us. But we do not love, take care of and help each other at all and there is no tacit agreement in spirit. We each make an effort in our own matters. There is no genuine union. The manifestations of genuine union are: Finding that there exists real problems in the church or that brothers and sisters meet some difficulties and feel negative and weak, everyone can seek and pray with one heart and mind; If a co-worker makes a mistake in his work, we can realize that not only he but also everyone else is responsible for dealing with it for it involves the work of the church, and then we can try to understand the problem clearly and seek a remedy together; when someone meets difficulties, we can help him with a loving heart, and look to God and seek the solution together; if we gain enlightenment and light in God’s word, we can fellowship and share them with one another so that we can help each other’s spiritual life grow; if we find that some actions of our partners are not in line with the Lord’s will, we should not be afraid of giving offense but instead raise the issues with them, which not only is helpful to them but also lets them learn a lesson and take warning from the issues. … This is true and mutual love in spirit among Christians. Our being one, just as the phrase suggests, means that we are a whole unit, that is, we put our heart toward and work for a common goal without selfishness, without standing alone, and without division, living together as a family.

As is known to all, the Israelites served Jehovah God with reverent hearts, never daring to violate His laws and commandments. Due to their serving God faithfully, they saw many deeds of God and received His care and protection, and His grace was always with them in the end. This is their secret to serving God. Today, though we do not serve God in the temple wearing priests’ robe, we are those who work in the church. If we do not grasp the principles of harmonious coordination, the work of the church will not be blessed by God, and we will in the end not be approved by God because of not serving Him in a way that meets His intentions. On the contrary, if we grasp some principles of harmonious coordination, we will have hope of becoming people who are fit to be God’s servant. Just as Deuteronomy chapter 10 verse 12 says, “But to fear Jehovah your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” We can clearly see the importance of harmonious coordination in service between Christians.

Dear brothers and sisters, if you have any understanding or enlightenment from God,you’re welcome to share with us via: